Axel Jansen

Alexander Dallas Bache

Building the American Nation through Science and Education in the Nineteenth Century

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Alexander Dallas Bache war der Architekt des amerikanischen Wissenschaftssystems im 19. Jahrhundert, ein amerikanischer Wilhelm

von Humboldt. Als die USA im Bürgerkrieg zu zerbrechen drohten, gelang Bache 1863 die Gründung der "National Academy of Sciences". Im Namen der Wissenschaft schuf Bache damit ein Zeichen für den Fortbestand der Nation. Auf originelle Weise verknüpft Axel Jansen Biografieanalyse mit Wissenschafts- und Politikgeschichte.

"Axel Jansen's writing is exemplary in its deployment of close readings and literary perspectives to rethink large issues in the history of American science and the American state."

Theodore M. Porter, UCLA

"This challenging new perspective is a must-read for anyone interested in the various roots of modern science and professionalism."

James C. Mohr, College of Arts and Sciences Professor of History and Philip H. Knight Professor of Social Sciences, University of Oregon

"This is a book historians will not fail to read."

Thomas Haskell, Rice University

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Campus Verlag / University of Chicago Press
• Artikelnr. des Verlages: 39355
• Seitenzahl: 353
• Erscheinungstermin: Februar 2011
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 213mm x 142mm x 26mm
• Gewicht: 464g
• ISBN-13: 9783593393551
• ISBN-10: 3593393557
• Artikelnr.: 32674931

Autorenporträt

Axel Jansen, PD Dr., lehrt an den Universitäten in Tübingen und Frankfurt am Main.

Inhaltsangabe

Table of ContentsAcknowledgments91. IntroductionThe Curious Case of Alexander Dallas Bache11The Revised Theory of Professionalization14Science as a Profession and the American Nation-State18Approach and Methodology21Investigative Agenda252. Family BackgroundThe Franklin and Bache Families27The Dallas Family33Tertium Quid37Sophia Dallas Bache41Richard Bache's Failure453. A Career in Science?West Point50The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers59National Purpose644. Early Research and Institutional DevelopmentScientist or Administrator?66Bache at the University of Pennsylvania67The Urban Setting70The Franklin Institute's Raison d'Être73The Report on Steam Boiler Explosions79Weights and Measures92The Debate on Meteor Showers105Research Interests and Institutional Development:Common Denominators1175.Girard College and Central High School, 1836-1842Girard College as a Political Symbol126The Design and Ambition of Greek Revivalism133Bache's European Trip and the Bache-Biddle Correspondence137More on Bache's European Tour150Central High School159Bache Ejected1666. Bache's Program for National Consolidation IBache's 1842 Address on "American Manufactures"173American Mythology174Prospects for Consolidating the American Nation183"This Most August Sovereign"189Elites in the American Republic1947.Bache's Program for National Consolidation IIThe United States Coast Survey197The National Institute205Bache's Speech at the 1844 Meeting of the National Institute209European Conditions215Developing American Science218Guarding the Palladium222American Science by an American Union2318.Bache's Program for National Consolidation IIIThe American Association for the Advancement of Science236Bache's 1851 Speech as Outgoing AAAS President2389. Bache, Benjamin Peirce, and the Lazzaroni in 1854A National Club248"The Dark Prospect Appalls Me"251"A Victory for the Evil One"275President of an Invisible National Academy28110.The 1863 Founding of the National Academy of SciencesThe Timing285The Bache-Lieber Correspondence287"Ignorant of Scriptural Injunctions"294More on the Bache-Lieber Correspondence306The Founding of the National Academy of Sciences30811.ConclusionA New Paradigm for Writing the History of Nineteenth-Century American Science as a Profession315Coordinates of Alexander Dallas Bache's Career320List of Figures327Selected BibliographyManuscripts and Archival Material328Printed Primary Sources329Books and Articles333Index345Table of Contents

Acknowledgments9

1. Introduction
The Curious Case of Alexander Dallas Bache11
The Revised Theory of Professionalization14
Science as a Profession and the American Nation-State18
Approach and Methodology21
Investigative Agenda25

2. Family Background
The Franklin and Bache Families27
The Dallas Family33
Tertium Quid37
Sophia Dallas Bache41
Richard Bache's Failure45

3. A Career in Science?
West Point50
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers59
National Purpose64

4. Early Research and Institutional Development
Scientist or Administrator?66
Bache at the University of Pennsylvania67
The Urban Setting70
The Franklin Institute's Raison d'Être73
The Report on Steam Boiler Explosions79
Weights and Measures92
The Debate on Meteor Showers105
Research Interests and Institutional Development:
Common Denominators117

5.Girard College and Central High School, 1836-1842
Girard College as a Political Symbol126
The Design and Ambition of Greek Revivalism133
Bache's European Trip and the Bache-Biddle Correspondence137
More on Bache's European Tour150
Central High School159
Bache Ejected166

6. Bache's Program for National Consolidation I
Bache's 1842 Address on "American Manufactures"173
American Mythology174
Prospects for Consolidating the American Nation183
"This Most August Sovereign"189
Elites in the American Republic194

7.Bache's Program for National Consolidation II
The United States Coast Survey197
The National Institute205
Bache's Speech at the 1844 Meeting of the National Institute209
European Conditions215
Developing American Science218
Guarding the Palladium222
American Science by an American Union231

8.Bache's Program for National Consolidation III
The American Association for the Advancement of Science236
Bache's 1851 Speech as Outgoing AAAS President238

9. Bache, Benjamin Peirce, and the Lazzaroni in 1854
A National Club248
"The Dark Prospect Appalls Me"251
"A Victory for the Evil One"275
President of an Invisible National Academy281

10.The 1863 Founding of the National Academy of Sciences
The Timing285
The Bache-Lieber Correspondence287
"Ignorant of Scriptural Injunctions"294
More on the Bache-Lieber Correspondence306
The Founding of the National Academy of Sciences308

11.Conclusion
A New Paradigm for Writing the History of Nineteenth-Century American Science as a Profession315
Coordinates of Alexander Dallas Bache's Career320

List of Figures327

Selected Bibliography
Manuscripts and Archival Material328
Printed Primary Sources329
Books and Articles333

Index345

Rezensionen

"Jansens Buch liefert ein wichtiges Stück der Wissenschafts(organisations)geschichte der USA und verhilft zu neuen Fragen - in beidem liegt kein geringer Verdienst seiner Studie.", Amerikastudien/American Studies, 01.01.2013 "Jansen gelingt eine lesbare, interessante Studien, die spannende Informationen über die Professionalisierung der Wissenschaften in einer wichtigen Phase der US-Gesellschaft liefert und dank durchdachter Gliederung sowie eines gründlichen Index sich dem Leser leicht erschließt.", Historische Zeitschrift, 01.06.2013»Jansens Buch liefert ein wichtiges Stück der Wissenschafts(organisations)geschichte der USA und verhilft zu neuen Fragen - in beidem liegt kein geringer Verdienst seiner Studie.« Amerikastudien/American Studies, 01.01.2013 »Jansen gelingt eine lesbare, interessante Studien, die spannende Informationen über die Professionalisierung der Wissenschaften in einer wichtigen Phase der US-Gesellschaft liefert und dank durchdachter Gliederung sowie eines gründlichen Index sich dem Leser leicht erschließt.« Historische Zeitschrift, 01.06.2013 »Axel Jansen's writing is exemplary in its deployment of close readings and literary perspectives to rethink large issues in the history of American science and the American state.« Theodore M. Porter, University of Caifornia (UCLA) »This challenging new perspective is a must-read for anyone interested in the various roots of modern science and professionalism.« James C. Mohr, College of Arts and Sciences Professor of History and Philip H. Knight Professor of Social Sciences, University of Oregon »This is a book historians will not fail to read.« Thomas Haskell, Rice University »Through keen analysis, Jansen expertly delineates Bache's significant role in professional and institutional development in the United States. Alexander Dallas Bache is a substantial contribution to both the history of science and our understanding of the development of the American nation.« Lester D. Stephens, Journal of American History, Volume 99, Issue 1, June 2012 »This is not your grandmother or grandfather's biography. [...] What Axel Jansen has done in his unusual and innovative book, Alexander Dallas Bache, is deploy a particular theoretical and methodological perspective to better understand the life of the important American scientific institution builder of the mid-nineteenth century.« Earth Sciences History (2013), 32 (1)